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Monthly Archives: June 2015

When last Co Do (see post here) we bumped into a friend as we were leaving and she recommended we try the bun rieu so last month we did just that!

We ate at Co Do on a Saturday afternoon around 1pm and we were lucky we didn’t have to wait for a table. We were seated straight away near the window which enabled Mr D to car-watch while we waited for our meals, which didn’t take long at all to arrive.

We ordered:– vegetarian spring rolls

– a bowl of bun rieu

– a bowl of banh canh pork soup

Ambience:Compared to some of the other cheap eats along Hampshire road in Sunshine, Co Do is fitted out with dark, rich colours making it feel just a little more special.

Service:
Fast and abrupt

The Details:You can find street parking nearby and if you’ve never been to Co Do before their BBH (bun bo hue) is their specialty. The menu is extensive with lots of variety from soups to rice dishes to pancakes.

I liked the flavour of the bun rieu – it reminded me of a Filipino noodle dish called palabok. It had all the same flavors as palabok except the bun rieu was in a soup form! It had a lot of filling and even Mr D liked it!

How far along are you? 24 weeks and 5 daysHow big is baby? This week baby is as long as an ear of corn! On average around 30cms long and weighing 600 grams.Body and changes:– Weight gain Feeling even bigger than last week and hardly carrying Mr D now as he is getting too heavy. The other day I was on my feet, doing housework and was lifting Mr D a few times and by the evening I felt a bit sore down in my pelvis.
– Stretch marks Again, same as last week and still rubbing Bio Oil and Palmer’s Cocoa Butter all over my bump in the mornings and evenings. I haven’t noticed any new stretch marks.
– Sleep Been getting onto the Quick-Eze this past week as the reflux and heartburn just seems to be burning my throat everytime I go to bed and it’s taking me so long to get to sleep. I need to stop eating such big servings and avoid eating to much chili, garlic and onion!
Maternity clothes? I haven’t bought anything new but will probably do so in the next week – I just want to be as comfy as possibleThe Other Stuff: Sorry in advance for TMI lol! – I never normally have the need to use deodorant but even when I was pregnant with Daniel I remember having to use it and lots of it! The hubby says he doesn’t notice anything and that I always smell nice but maybe he’s just being sweet…either way I’m loving the Dove Go Fresh Cucumber and Green Tea spray (I’ll post a June favourites this week!).

Eating: I have managed to resist the urge to grab a Kit Kat this week haha! Been reaching for strawberries and pears 🙂Feeling a little tired this week and my bump has been feeling heavy and hard.Needing a trip to the hairdresser desperately! Need a trim and to get my ends coloured.Wanting to fix up my blog and update everything but every time I seem to sit down to get productive online when Mr D goes to bed, the internet is never working! Hubby says it’s time to reformat my laptop.Missing: Being able to try on clothes at the stores and fit into everything.Watching Sweet Home Alabama and also finally made it to the movies for a date night with the family! Mr D sat through the whole Minions movie thoroughly enjoying the experience and the games afterwards! 🙂Bookmarking: Bump photos on InstagramNoticing: My thighs double in size Enjoying Papa’s prawn, gnocchi and rocket dish – Sunday dinners at my parent’s house is the best! Also enjoying spending some time visiting fellow Rewind mama friends 🙂 Enjoyed baking these crunchy topped cinnamon muffins (below), love how freshly baked muffins and sweets fill the house with the smell of a warm bakery.

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#graceandthanks

D has really been developing such longer sentences and every day he continues to say phrases that I’ve never heard him say before. Every morning though, I feel so bad leaving him as he certainly knows how set me on a guilt trip, “Mummy don’t leave me. Don’t leave me. Only daddy can go to work, you stay with me and Daddy will go to work by himself”. Wow! So thankful I get to watch the hubby and son play and enjoy lots of time together playing cars, but also outside on bike rides and watching the soccer games in the park nearby.

#gratefuldaniel #5

Daddy: Daniel do you want to say thanks for anything today?Daniel: Thank you for watching Minions and uhhh thank you to lolo for cooking yummy dinner.

I can’t believe how fast a toddler can pick up new words, phrases and feelings.

In case you missed some of my other bump updates you can check them out here! And if you’re new around here, hi!!! and be sure to check out Start Here to help you navigate around ze blog 🙂 Happy reading and please let me know if you have any particular things you’d like me to post about. You can find me here a lot of the time! 🙂 Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss any posts. Have a great week!

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How far along are you? 23 weeks and 5 daysHow big is baby? Apparently the size of a large mango! On average around 28.9cms long and weighing 501 grams.Body and changes:– Weight gain I think I’ve doubled in size this past week! So uncomfortable in some of my clothes and had to store more away into boxes. I really need to watch what I’m eating and eat more veggies and fruit rather than chocolate!
– Stretch marks Again, same as last week and still rubbing Bio Oil and Palmer’s Cocoa Butter all over my bump in the mornings and evenings.
– Sleep Sleep has been better than last week and I’m using one of those long body pillows that I used last time when I was pregnant with D. Work’s been super busy over the last couple of weeks so it hasn’t taken me long to fall asleep at night.
Maternity clothes? I’m so tempted to buy some more maternity clothes as it is SO cold in the city these days but I’m trying to make the most of my wardrobe right now and mix and match everything before jumping onto ASOS to check out their maternity options! I can’t believe I didn’t buy anything from there last time.The Other Stuff: The lower part of my tummy has been super itchy and I’ve tried so hard not to scratch it but have had a couple of moments of weakness Slathering on the oil and cocoa butter definitely helps soothe the itchiness. I’ve also been feeling so full and feeling a bit of heartburn every time I go to bed. I really need to ease up on the quantity of food I’m eating as it gets really uncomfortable.

Eating: Still loving the Kit Kats but now I’m onto a mission to find those amazingly delectable cinnamon scrolls I’ve seen on my feed a few times from Kwak Scrolls!Feeling: Feeling really productive both at home and at work. Been trying to de-clutter a lot of unnecessary and unused things around the house like paperwork, clothes, and general household items and dust collectors!Needing: Still needing a foot and leg massage and trip to the hairdressers for a trim and colour. Also needing some warmth and sun so we’ll be heading up to Noosa next month! I’ve never been there before so let me know if you have and any places you recommend we eat, play or stay at 🙂Wanting: to decorate and fix up D’s room and our upstairs area but it never seems to get done with unfinished wall hangings and empty photo frames lying on the ground waiting to be displayed on the walls.Missing: Dancing.Watching: Tangled – D has been watching it quite a bit lately and when I told D that I loved him, he replied back with “I love you more” which I’d never heard him say before and then he told me, “That’s what Rapunzel says”. He’s picking up things so quickly these days and we really need to watch what we say as he copies everything!Bookmarking: Interior decor for kids rooms!Noticing: Lots of tempting sales on at the moment. We went to Highpoint on the weekend and I just wanted to buy everything from boots, to jewelry to tops and skirts!Enjoying: Brunch and dinners out – recently we dined at Lux Foundry in Brunswick and Yim Yam which we hadn’t been to in ages! Love their toasted coconut rice and pad thai!! So saucy!

#graceandthanks

D has learnt to sing a Filipino nursery rhyme this week and his Tagalog is so good! 🙂 The other night, I heard his sweet little voice in a sing-song manner and saw that he was singing in Daddy’s ear. My cousin had been teaching him and it was only recently that I’d heard him sing so clearly! So thankful for all the people D has around him, caring for him and nurturing his growth in all areas. Bless!

#gratefuldaniel #4

Daddy: Daniel do you want to say thanks for anything today?Daniel: Thank you for mummy’s arms and thank you for the moon.

Uggh I love hearing his little thank you notes every night! Such a perfect end to the day.

In case you missed some of my other bump updates you can check them out here! And if you’re new around here, hi!!! and be sure to check out Start Here to help you navigate around ze blog 🙂 Happy reading and please let me know if you have any particular things you’d like me to post about. You can find me here a lot of the time! 🙂 Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss any posts. Have a great week!

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How far along are you? 22 weeks and 6 daysHow big is baby? Baby is weighing around 430g and, according to Baby Center, measuring around 27cms longBody and changes:– Weight gain I’m guessing more than I did last week!? I’ve been feasting on everything and as hard as I try I can’t seem to limit myself to one serving at dinner (the other night we had dinuguan – a Filipino dish of pork and black in colour thanks to the ingredient of pigs blood. I probably ate around 3 servings! And Sunday night papa cooked the most amazing meatloaf ever that I just kept going back for more!). Ugghh! Where is your self control Jacqui?
– Stretch marks Same as last week and still rubbing Bio Oil and Palmer’s Cocoa Butter all over my bump in the mornings and evenings.
– Sleep Last week, I don’t know what was going on, but I was waking up more than usual in the middle of the night…either going to the bathroom or just laying awake in bed trying desperately to get back to sleep! Hopefully this week is much better
Maternity clothes? I’ve been wearing stretchy skits and tops to work and my actual maternity clothes are just some pairs of jeans from Top Shop and Target, and one pair of work pants also from Target from my previous pregnancy. I will post another bump diary update in the coming weeks with some of my comfy, work wear picks!The Other Stuff: It is around this time in the pregnancy that expectant mums start to produce colostrum (the important, rich first milk that Baby gets, full of protein and antibodies in the first few days after birth). Apparently by the time Baby is born the glandular tissue in the breasts will have doubled in size! Other changes that may occur include increased vaginal discharge and the need to go to the loo more often – babycenter.com

Eating: Everything and Kit Kats in the afternoons – they’re so cold and crisp when they come out of the vending machine!Feeling: Like I’ve got a lot more energy than in previous weeks. Mr D and I even went along to the parish working bee last Saturday to help out with some weeding and gardening and I think I got a little bit too stuck into it that I started to feel a little discomfort in my pelvic area. I hadn’t felt it it before so I just had a long rest in the afternoon and it went away almost immediately. Hopefully it’s not a feeling that will come back later and the midwife that we saw today told me that I should just take it easy when it comes to gardening or housework.Needing: a foot and leg massage and trip to the hairdressers for a trim and colour…my colour has grown out so much and I just want to tidy everything up.Wanting: to spend every minute of the day with Mr D, and tonight I was so annoyed at the trains being cancelled 2 stops before mine on the way home. I just wanted to get home to our toasty, warm, lounge room, eat leftovers for dinner and hang out with Mr D while watching Masterchef. Thankfully papa was able to pick the hubby and I up from the station so we didn’t have to wait in the dark and the rain for the replacement buses to come.Missing: Being able to bend over. Such a simple action but now I’m finding it hard to put my own shoes on when they have laces. I am also missing lying down on my stomach and my back.Watching: Masterchef and movies on Netflix like Just Go With It – makes me want to go to Hawaii!Bookmarking: Warm, sunny holiday destinations. (OMG Baby is kicking and moving around so much right now! It’s like there’s a gymnastics lesson going on in there!! How exciting!)Noticing: My hair and nails growing fasterEnjoying: Weekends with the family (see post here) and enjoying listening to the rain pitter-pattering outside right now.

#graceandthanks
I am so thankful for my wonderful family and most of all my parents! This past week we shared delicious family meals together and the hubby and I were saved from long journey home when the trains were terminated by the parents. Always there for us when we need them. Always looking out for their kids even though we’re all grown up. Love them so, so much.

Grateful Daniel #3Daddy: Daniel do you want to say thanks for anything today?Daniel: Uhhhh yesDaddy: What do you want to say thanks for?Daniel: Uhhhh thanks to God for ninong JP’s racing (JP is one of Daniel’s godfathers).Daddy: Why do you want to say thanks for ninong JP?Daniel: Uhhhhh because he’s the fastest!

Mr D was so excited after seeing his ninong racing around that he couldn’t settle down for his afternoon nap – he just wanted to keep playing with his cars lol! So happy to see him enjoying the things that our friends have an interest in and hearing him be thankful for it!

To read how Mr D’s thankfulness night time routine started, see the blog post here!
Thanks to all of you for your nice comments on Facebook about it and it’s so heartwarming to know that you love the idea and have incorporated into your bedtime traditions too!

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A nice, warm sleep-in (we went to mass the last night!), brunch and good coffee, exploring and playtime with Daddy and Mr D, spending time with friends and family. An afternoon nap. Dinner with the family. A perfect, ideal Sunday. Relaxing and slow paced. Simple and beautiful.

This morning we slept in (with a 2 year old toddler that means sleeping in past 9am!) then headed straight downstairs to play with all Mr D’s new cars (our local toy store is closing down and everything was going for half the price!). The sun was shining and Daddy was up (he had an early dj set last night! Get his mixtapes here!) so brunch at one of Melbourne’s cafes was the pick.

We decided to go to nearby Yarraville knowing that there would be plenty of great cafes to choose from.

We ordered:
– Bacon steaks with beetroot and celeriac remoulade, poached eggs and Finnish mustard ($18)
– Free range scrambled eggs with parmesan, rainbow chard, soft herbs and chilli ($14.50) and I added mushrooms extra ($4.50) – it was such a great combo – full of taste and so filling!
– Kids waffles with maple syrup (Yummm! We shared with Mr D!)
– a flat white and a cappucino

Ambience:
Relaxed and casual with lots of light and both outdoor seating round the back and seating at the windows with views of pretty Ballarat street.

Service:
Friendly and attentive.

The Details:
There are kids’ options on the menu and if you want to hang around and enjoy the sunshine, order a takeaway coffee and some of their delicious-looking baked goods and enjoy them on the lawn right outside.

Afterwards we drove around to find Mr D some boats as he’s been asking about seeing some all morning. We drove under the Westgate bridge and if you haven’t see the bridge from underneath, you’re missing a great view! Try driving down Hyde street or Douglas parade. The view is amazing and makes you appreciate just how much work was put into building it. Such a different view from the daily peak hour traffic that you are probably normally used to.

We saw a huge container ship as we were driving so we quickly followed it and found ourselves at France Street Fishing Jetty. It was perfect! Mr D hurried out of the car and we just stood there in awe. It was so majestic – the view and the slow movement of the ship as it was nudged by a little tugboat in to dock.

After boat-watching and finding lots of starfish on the jetty, we headed to Laverton as one of Mr D’s godfathers was there with his car club, 86 Club Australia. See here for details about membership and their events!“Go Ninong go!” (“ninong” is “godfather” in Tagalog) – Mr D was hypnotised by all the cars and the driving. He thought they were just like Lightning McQueen and was in awe of his ninong’s driving skills.

With such excitement, Mr D was ready for his nap and we got home just after midday for a siesta! 🙂

Up next, dinner with the family!

Our ideal Sunday:
– playtime with Mr D
– sharing meals together
– exploring the neighbourhood
– quality time with family and friends
– no rushing around

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I’ve been trying to bring lunch into work more often but when it’s catch up time with fellow blogger Consider the Sauce I know I’m in for a treat.

Kenny suggests this organic little place down Little Collins street and as we get closer to it I cannot believe I haven’t been here yet, it’s so close to the office!

We arrived just a little before 12pm and it was just as well as we beat the lunch time rush and got a table inside. It got so warm with the sun shining through the window – perfect winter day.

We ordered:
– Organic salmon and miso soup $8 This was one of the 3 soups of the day so Kenny ordered that and it came with a slice of bread
– Half curry + salad combo $9.50 “You also can choose this option as the half size curry and salad combo. If you want to go healthier, this would be the best choice of you!!” This was what it said on their menu and I chose the Toyko style curry of chicken and tomato paired with tofu salad to keep it on the light side. The half size of rice and chicken was so filling that I can’t imagine finishing a full serving – and I eat a lot! Great value for money and I love how you can mix and match! (You can choose from the teriyaki chicken salad, tofu salad or creamy potato salad)
– Tokyo Bento $12 Rice balls, meatball, potato salad w/ Japanese mayo, traditional carrots, and eggplant & tofu w/ sweet miso. The meatball had great flavor.

Ambience:
A cute little cafe with tables inside and out. Casual and comfortable

Service:
Fast. Efficient. Somehow when we had started eating our meals, one of the staff came from the back and said they’d forgotten to add something to the Tokyo Bento so he took Kenny’s plate and came back with a meatball. We hadn’t even noticed anything was missing but were thankful for them acknowledging their mistake.

The Details:
Even though you may see a line outside Brimcc’s door, it actually moves quite quickly! Perfect for those in a rush for lunch. Open for lunch and dinner, check out the menu on their website so you know what to order when you get in.